Wisconsin is not a nice place to be in the wintertime. Scottsdale, Arizona, is. That simple premise accounts for Taliesin West. Several hearty souls do live in Wisconsin during the winter, I just wouldn't recommend it...any more than I'd suggest Scottsdale in the summer. Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin Fellowship may be the only educational institution of any kind with seasonal campuses. Ever since the early 1930s, following his work on the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, the Wright family had packed up the car in October and trekked the thousand miles or so from Spring Green, Wisconsin to the northeast suburb of Phoenix. It was a time when Scottsdale had a greater population of rattlesnakes and scorpions than humans. The trip to the desert Southwest took two weeks.

Taliesin West began in a tent. Wright purchased the land in 1937 for $3.50 per acre. He bought 800 acres ($2,800) no small investment during the 1930s especially inasmuch as it was all bone dry rock, sand and cactus with the added bonus of the aforementioned native population. The first year, as he and his apprentices constructed, largely from native materials (rocks and sand come cheap in the desert), the first, crude, core components to support their six-month habitation, their domestic architecture consisted mostly of poles and canvas. For several years afterwards the roof between the heavy wood beams of the "work room" (drafting studio) continued to be canvas until the desert heat caused it to deteriorate to such a degree it had to be replaced with plastic. For decades afterwards, Taliesin West continued to grow (or perhaps sprawl). Most of the area remained largely untouched. The campus eventually came to occupy less than ten acres. Today, a deluxe tour of Taliesin West (three hours, $52. per person) includes an optional hike through the desert along the many paths worn by Wright's nature-loving apprentices (and their families).

Although there's a surprising amount of wood employed in the structural elements and in various details, the major masses have been constructed using wooden forms, filled first with boulders, then lined with colorful flat stones facing outward. Poured concrete was then used to fill in any remaining voids. The heavy reliance upon stone reduces the amount of concrete needed and thus the cost of construction. Although early photos and motion pictures from the 1950s indicate the predominant color scheme was orange, tan, and gray, today there is also a great deal of irrigated green, even two swimming pools, one of which, is triangular and mostly ornamental. In all the Southwest, even today, water is a precious commodity. In the early days of Taliesin it was especially precious, to the tune of ten-thousand 1937 dollars for a well. Needless to say, the swimming pools had to wait a few years.

Wright had always been one to work out of his home, at least after his kids were grown. Taliesin West was named for Taliesin back in Wisconsin, which had twice burned to the ground, the second time in 1914 killing Wright's mistress and her two children. Each time, Taliesin was rebuilt employing Wright's interpretation of the International style influences he'd picked up in touring Europe between wives during the early 1920s. It was basically a wood frame model for what Wright later did in glass, stone, and concrete in the Arizona desert, minus his penchant for cantilevered balconies. Taliesin West is very earthbound (and largely fireproof). The pool in the front yard was as much for fire suppression as for swimming. The lines of Wright's home/office/design studio echo the flatness of the desert environment in much the same way as his Fallingwater, was influenced by the Bear Run waterfall it overhangs.

Inside Taliesin West, the desert still makes its presence felt, if not directly via visual vistas, then through the textural presence and masculinity of the same concrete and masonry interspersed with massive wood structural components as seen outside. Though several steps beyond camping out in a tent, the mingling of natural nature and human nature within the mind is never more than just below the highly refined simplicity of Wright's architectural
philosophy.

Since the death of Frank Lloyd Wright in 1959 at the age of 91, Taliesin West has evolved into a tourist attraction as well as an architectural school with shades of desert commune. Apprentices still come from around the world to study under former Wright apprentices now some two generations removed from the man himself. The dessert showplace is much prettier now, looking very much at home in the 21st century, having shed its dry, brown, desert rawness in favor of pretty cactus flowers, elegant landscaping, and carefully manicured lawns. The ample parking lot is neatly paved and lined, the gift shop well stocked, the apprentice guides well-versed in everything there is to know about Wright, Taliesin (both of them) and the rules and regulations of architecture according to their long dead idol.

Ready to stay in a real Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home? Check out this breathtaking vacation
rental on Hawaii’s Big Island:

About the Author

Whether you’re Mickey Mouse’s biggest fan, greatest parent ever for promising your kids a trip to Disney World, or agreeing to go to the park so you can eat some churros and hang with Goofy, there’s a good chance that you have a favorite ride at Disney World. So, we’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of some of the best and most iconic rides at Walt Disney World Resort. Without further ado, here they are (in no particular order):

1. Mad Tea Party (the teacups)
This one definitely falls into the iconic ride category. The original version of the Mad Tea Party opened at Disneyland in 1955 and has been delighting little ones ever since.

2. Prince Charming Regal Carousel
Originally built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, the carousel presently know as Prince Charming’s was bought by Walt Disney and transferred to Disney World in 1967, where he made some mechanical modifications to it. Each horse on the handmade carousel is unique.

3. Space Mountain
First opened in 1975, Space Mountain is the oldest operating roller coaster in Florida, but don’t count the old boy out just yet. Drops into darkness, neon lights and a tour of the cosmos make this ride truly mind blowing.

5. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Visitors first take a tour of the haunted Hollywood Tower Hotel before strapping themselves into the “service elevator” and riding it up to the 13th floor before it plummets back down again.

Fun factor: Your heart will be in your throat, and your throat will be in your stomach or something like that—you get the picture.
Nostalgia rating: 5/10

6. It’s a Small World
For more than 40 years, It’s a Small World has been whisking families away on a boat trip to visit every continent on the planet. Riders will get to join in on a sing-a-long, while the journey focuses on friendship, customs and traditional dress around the globe.

7. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Originally opened in 1979, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad takes riders on a indoor/outdoor exploration that dips, drops and swoops through an abandoned mine shaft from the Gold Rush day.

8. Epcot’s Soarin’
A popular attraction since 2005, Soarin’ at Epcot, is a flight simulator that operates in conjunction with a curved projection screen and scent dispenser that gives riders the feeling that they are soaring over the state of California and visiting sites from the Golden Gate Bridge to San Diego and everything in between.

9. Peter Pan’s Flight
With the help of a sprinkling of pixie dust, kids and parents will be able fly high above the streets of London, all the way to Never Land to visit the Lost Boys, Mermaid Cove and see Peter duel with Captain Hook.

Fun factor: You’re never too old to visit Never Land
Nostalgia rating: 9/10

10. Haunted Mansion
This dark ride has been scaring visitors for over 40 years now. If you dare to see for yourself, you’ll meander past ghouls, ghost, coffins and many other spine-tingling spectacles before making your escape from the mansion.

Fun factor: Scaredy cats beware…
Nostalgia rating: 8/10

Ready to plan your own visit to Disney World? Check out these great vacation rentals in the area:

This past summer my husband and I traveled extensively throughout the northwestern US. While we enjoyed every moment of the trip, our favorite single day had to be our visit to Glacier National Park in Montana. Designated the nation’s 10th National Park by President Taft, the park is a World Heritage Site covering over 1 million acres. According to the USGS, in 1850 there were 150 glaciers in the park; most of them still remaining in 1910. Thanks to global climate change, today only 25 glaciers prevail; scientists estimate that all will have disappeared by 2030.

Beyond the Pines

Known to Native Americans as the “Backbone of the World”, the park is located in the Northern Rocky Mountains on the US-Canada border. Originally home to Blackfeet, Kootenai and Salish indian tribes, today the remaining Native Americans live in reservations near the park’s boundaries, each of which is over a million acres. In 1933, these formerly hostile tribes gathered with park luminaries for a ceremonial passing of a peace pipe at the dedication of the park’s only road, the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.

I was eager to try to capture the beauty of the park through my lens, and to share the day with my husband and our friends. We set out bright and early in an effort to catch the magnificent GTTS scenery in the morning’s first light. Internationally known for its incredible engineering, the road is comprised of 52 miles of the most amazing vistas you’ll every hope to see. It crosses the Continental Divide and includes 12 miles that were literally cut into the mountains by manual laborers using 500,000 pounds of explosives. Photographs of construction crews hanging over the sides of cliffs from frayed ropes are truly frightening. The fact that they had to walk 2 miles each way to get to work, while climbing 2700 vertical feet makes their accomplishment that much more incredible.

Timing is critical for visiting the park, as the road has some of the heaviest snowfall in the US - up to 80 feet in a typical year on a single area of the road. Our mid-July visit found the road had opened only the week before. Although the park is open year-round, GTTS Road closes when plowing becomes impossible so be sure to check the park website for seasonal closures. Also, keep in mind that temperatures vary widely depending on where you are in the park. In a single day, we hiked in shorts and tee shirts at one point; while on another we were unable to go beyond a few hundred feet before the snow was so deep we were forced to turn around.

Speaking of hikes, the road hosts trailheads for over 700 miles of trails ranging from short treks to extended backpacking trips for adventurers of any skill and/or fitness level. Several feature breathtaking, crystal clear rivers and lakes, most famously Lake McDonald and Two Medicine Lake, and the Saint Mary and Flathead Rivers. Glacier is home to over 70 species of animals, including grizzly bear, gray wolf, mountain goat and lynx. Fishing is permitted throughout, and species such as rainbow and cutthroat trout, northern pike, whitefish and salmon make the park a fisherman’s paradise. Boating is permitted from several public docks, and rental boats are also available. Guided tour boats accommodate visitors on several of the larger lakes.

Going to the Sun Road is the only one in the country designated as both a National Historic and a National Civil Engineering Landmark. A shuttle service is available for those who would prefer to look at the sights rather than drive, because drivers cannot take their eyes off the road for a second without putting themselves and their passengers at risk. There are several hotels and lodges within the park, including two historic hotels built in 1912 and 1927. In addition there are villages at both the East and West entrances which offer alternative lodging.

To quote Horace Albright’s comments at the GTTS Road dedication ceremony: “Let there be no competition of other roads with the Going to the Sun Highway. It should stand supreme and alone.” Personally, with its steep vertical drops, its views of dense forests and shimmering glaciers, and its waterfalls cascading into deep canyons, I believe the road continues to meet and exceed that challenge to this day.

About the Author

Since retiring in 2000 from an all-consuming career in technology, Tina Schell has had the luxury of reconnecting with some of the things she loves most; photography, nature and travel. Keep up with her photographic adventures on her blog, Travels and Trifles.